Multiple unit hand luggage

ABSTRACT

An item of luggage to be hand-carried when travelling, especially on airplanes, buses, trains or other public conveyances to enable the articles contained in the luggage to be immediately available and to eliminate the possibility of luggage becoming lost in transit. The luggage includes a larger bag having an access opening therein and a carrying strap detachably connected thereto, a smaller bag detachably mounted on one side of the larger bag for support therefrom when assembled therewith and a detachable tray-like container of substantially rigid construction mounted on and forming a continuation of the bottom of the larger bag. The detachable carrying strap for the larger bag is removed therefrom and attached to the smaller bag when it is desirable to carry only the smaller bag.

United States Patent Rosenblum [451 Oct. 10, 1972 MULTIPLE UNIT HAND LUGGAGE [22] Filed: July 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 161,827

[52] US. Cl ..150/33, 150/28 R, 150/35,

51 int. Cl .Q ..A45c 13/26 58 Field of Search ..150/28 R, 35, 33,28 A, 34; 190/42, 52, 57, 58 R, 58 A; 224/46, 47

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,122,225 2/1964 Ward ..190/52 2,844,179 7/1958 Koret ..150/28 R 2,801,666 8/1957 Steele ..150/34 2,544,493 3/1951 Filenbaum ..150/28 R 1,581,985 4/1926 Sachs ..150/28 R 2,428,906 10/1947 Cannella... ..224/45 2,570,851 10/1951 Peyser ..150/28 R 2,672,903 3/1954 Machinist ..150/28 R 3,121,452 2/1964 Hyman ..150/28 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 855,081 2/1940 France ..150/28 R Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT An item of luggage to be hand-carried when travelling, especially on airplanes, buses, trains or other public conveyances to enable the articles contained in the luggage to be immediately available and to eliminate the possibility of luggage becoming lost in transit. The luggage includes a larger bag having an access opening therein and a carrying strap detachably connected thereto, a smaller bag detachably mounted on one side of the larger bag for support therefrom when assembled therewith and a detachable tray-like container of substantially rigid construction mounted on and forming a continuation of the bottom of the larger bag. The detachable carrying strap for the larger bag is removed therefrom and attached to the smaller bag when it is desirable to carry only the smaller bag.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHCI 10 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 2 Julia R. Rosenb/um INVENTOR. U06

PATENIEDncr 10 m2 sum 2 or 2 B m n a w w 2 I i- IIIIIII L 8 6 8 2 3 M5 M w w 2 4 m K 5 4 8 g 2 6 F 2 h w 8 7 o m 7 Julia R. Rosenb/um MULTIPLE UNIT HAND LUGGAGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to an item of luggage and more particularly a multiple unit hand luggage including a larger bag, a smaller bag attached to one side thereof and a rigid detachable tray mounted from the bottom of the larger bag with the larger bag having a detachable hand-carrying strap or handle which may be removed from the larger bag and placed on the smaller bag so that the smaller bag may be carried independently of the larger bag when desired.

DESCRIPTION or THE PRIOR ART When travelling, a problem frequently encountered is loss, delay and inaccessibility of luggage. Thus, there has been a tendency for travellers to hand-carry their luggage and correspondingly carry less luggage which has been facilitated to some degree by new fabrics which enable garments. to be folded or rolled into compact condition. As a result, there is currently available various types of hand luggage some of which employs shoulder straps for support which provides for freedom of movement of the hands. While such available devices facilitate carrying of items, all of the items being carried are still in one large compartment making it rather difficult to gain access to a particular item which may be desired. Also, women travellers also carry handbags which present a problem when handcarrying an item of luggage in addition thereto. Also, other bags such as those shown in prior patents relate to handbags as a fashion item whereas luggage for travel use demands that it be lightweight to avoid overweight payment and yet readily accessible and easily hand carried. The compact luggage is especially well adapted for use in airline travel and enables rolled garments of polyester and the like to be easily packed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multiple unit hand luggage incorporating a larger bag having a smaller bag attached thereto along one side thereof and a bottom rigid tray detachable from the bottom of the larger bag for carrying cosmetic items or the like with the larger bag having a detachable carrying strap or handle which may be removed therefrom and attached to the smaller bag when the smaller bag is detached from the larger bag thereby enabling the smaller bag to be employed as a handbag independent of the larger bag and usable by itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide hand luggage in accordance with the preceding object in which the larger bag is provided with a rigid bottom panel or frame that telescopesdownwardly over and is secured to the open top of a rigid tray which has been engineered to provide a close telescopic fit with a collar on the larger bag thereby substantially concealing the juncture between the larger bag and the rigid tray with the bottom of the larger bag forming a closure for the open upper end of the rigid tray. Tabs with snap fasteners secure the tray in position thereby eliminating the use of zippers which frequently snag stockings or other garments.

A further object of the invention is to provide hand luggage having access openings in a larger and smaller bag with closure means together with auxiliary pockets incorporated therein to facilitate separation of various items with the smaller bag being mounted externally on one side of the larger bag so that the opposite side of the hand luggage will be relatively smooth and free of projections for engagement with the side or hip area of a person carrying the device.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a multiple unit hand luggage which is relatively simple in construction, versatile in utility, easy to assemble and disassemble and relatively-inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multiple unit hand luggage of the present invention. I

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the smaller bag employed as a handbag with the carrying strap attached thereto.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rigid tray separated from the larger bag illustrating cosmetic articles or the like carried therein.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the structural and functional relationship of the components of the hand luggage of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the securing tab for the hand luggage oriented in its stored position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, the multiple unit hand luggage of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and includes an assembly of three units including a larger bag 12, a smaller bag M and a rigid bottom tray 16. FIG. 2 illustrates the smaller bag 14 separated from the larger bag 112 for use as a handbag and FIG. 3 illustrates the tray separated from the larger bag 12 to provide access to items in the tray such as cosmetic items or the like.

The larger bag includes side panels 18 and 20 interconnected by end panels 22 which extend upwardly and are continuous with a top panel 24 having an access opening therein closed by a closure device such as a conventional zipper 26 or the like. The bottom of the larger bag 12 is defined by a rigid bottom panel 28 which maintains the shape of the larger bag 12 and rigidities a peripheral collar 30 which depends below the bottom panel 28 and telescopes over the open upper end of the tray 16 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Attached to each of the end walls 22 adjacent the ends of the zipper 26 is a ring 32 such as a D-ring attached to the end wall 12 by any suitable structure such as a flexible loop 34 permanently stitched to the end wall 22. The two rings 32 serve as attachment points for carrying strap 36 provided with snap hooks 38 at each end thereof. The strap 36 may be provided with an adjustment buckle to enable the effective length thereof to be varied for use as a shoulder strap for people of different heights or to enable the device to be used as a handle to be grasped by the hand. Also, the larger bag 12 is provided with a lining 40 corresponding in shape to the periphery of the larger bag with one wall of the lining 40 having an opening therein closed by a zippertype closure 42 to provide access to an auxiliary pocket 44 formed by a flexible panel 46 formed into a relatively shallow pocket between the side wall 18 and the lining 40 to provide=for storage of desired items in position for ready access. l

The other side wall 20 is provided with a lower portion 48 which is of a softer texture material to provide a liningfor an external pocket 50 which has the external wall thereof defined by a partial side wall 52 which extends to a point above the lower edge of the side wall 20 and terminates in a reversely folded flap 54 which defines an entrance opening 56 to the exterior pocket with the center of the flap 54 being detachably connected to the center of the lower portion of the side wall 20 by mating snap fastener elements 58.

Any suitable stitching or other binding techniques maybe employed for securing the components of the bag together with it being pointed out that the panel 28 may be bonded to the bottom of the lining 40 or otherwise. secured thereto and the bottom surface of the panel 28 is" provided with a covering 60 which is secured thereto and extends downwardly to the lower edge of the collar 30 thus forming a reinforcement for the collar 30 which will retain it in vertical orientation so that it will be readily telescoped over the upper end of the tray 16.

The smaller bag 14 which is in the form of a handbag includes side panels 62 and 64 interconnected by a bottom panel 66, end panels 68 and a top panel 70 which has an access openingtherein closed by a suitable closure such as a zipper 72. The two end panels 68 are provided with D-rings 74 thereon similar to the D-rings 32 for receiving the snap hooks 38 on the carrying strap 36 thereby enabling the carrying strap 36 to be detached from the larger bag 12 and attached to the smaller bag 14 to facilitate carrying thereof. The interior of the smaller bag 14 is provided with a lining 76 with one wall thereof having an access opening closed by a zipper closure 78 to enable access to the pocket 80 formed by a flexible pocket-forming panel 82 which is disposed between the lining and the side wall 62.

Projecting upwardly from the juncture between the side wall 62 and the top panel 70 is a flap 84 which is reversely folded to form a double thickness having the fold at the outer edge thereof. The flap 84 is relatively narrow and extends substantially throughout the length of the top of the small bag 14 and includes a pair of snap fastener elements 86 on the surface thereof adjacent-the side wall 62 for registry with and engagement with mating snap fastener elements disposed on the interior surface of the reversely folded flap 54 forming the entrance 56 to the pocket 50 with the snap fastener elements on the flap 54 being disposed adjacent the ends thereof and in the same spacial relation as the snap fastener elements 86. Thus, the smaller bag 14 is mounted on the larger bag 12 by the flap 84 extending downwardly into the pocket 50 and the snap fastener elements 86 registered with the corresponding snap fastener elements adjacent each end of the inner surface of the flap 54. Also, the flap 84 is provided with a notch 88 in the center thereof for registry with the engaging snap fastener elements 58 which retain the flap 54 adjacent to the side wall 20 in the larger bag to retain the pocket closed and to keep the smaller bag 14 alongside the larger bag 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4. When the bags are assembled as in FIG. 4, the carrying strap 36 is attached to the larger handbag 12 and both of the closure zippers 26 and 72 are accessible and access can be had to the pocket 44 and through the zippers 42 and 78 and the pocket 50 may be opened by disengaging the centrally disposed snap fastener assembly 58. When it is desired to remove the smaller handbag 14, it is simply necessary to disengage the snap fastener elements 86 which will be facilitated by first disengaging the snap fastener assembly 58 at the center of the flap 54 so that the flap 54 may move away from the side panel 20 to provide easier access to the snap fasteners 86. The smaller bag 14 then may be hand carried either as a clutch-type handbag or the carrying strap 36 may be attached thereto and used either as a shoulder strap or as a hand-carrying strap depending upon the adjusted length thereof thereby enabling items that are normally found in a handbag to be placed in the smaller bag 14 and the smaller bag 14 carried along with the larger bag 12 as well as the tray 16 to enable normally two separate items to be carried in a single or assembled relationship. Then, when a destination is reached, the handbag may be simply detached and used either as a clutch bag or as a shoulder or hand carried bag by attaching the strap 36 thereto.

The rigid tray 16 includes a peripheral wall of rigid construction as designated by numeral 90 and including a rigid bottom 92 and snap fastener elements 94 on each end thereof for engagement with snap fastener elements 96 carried by a depending tab 98 at each end of the collar 30 with the tabs being flexible and secured in underlying relation to the collar 30. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the snap fastener element 96 on the tab 98 can be engaged with a normally idle snap fastener element 100 on the collar or depending portion of the liner 60 so that the tab may be oriented in stored position as H- lustrated in FIG. 5 when the tray 16 is not in position in underlying relation to the larger bag 12. The interior'of the tray 16 is provided with a liner 102 having a resilient cord MM threadedthrough eyelets 106 therein forming loops for securing containers 108 such as hot tles, jars and the like in which cosmetic articles or other liquids or materials are placed to retain these components in position for ready access and to prevent these items from moving or falling when carrying the luggage in the normal manner.

Also, the upper end of the tray 16 has a peripheralsure devices may be employed and the arrangement of or inclusion of the internal pockets is optional. The specific manner of forming and connecting the panels from which the hand luggage is constructed may be any conventional procedure depending upon the materials employed and appearance characteristics.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will radily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag having a bottom, a tray underlying the bottom of the larger bag, means securing the tray detachably to the larger bag for separation by relative vertical movement, a smaller bag oriented alongside of and totally exteriorly of the larger bag, said larger bag and smaller bag being substantially non-collapsible, shape sustaining, non-foldable and constant in external and internal dimensions while attached or detached, said bags also being equally useable and accessible when attached or detached, and means disposed solely adjacent the top edge portion of the smaller bag detachably mounting the smaller bag onto the larger bag to enable the larger bag, tray and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the tray for access to items therein and removal of the smaller bag for use independently of the larger bag and tray, said means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag including fastening means on the larger bag that are hidden from view when observing the exterior portion of the larger bag to which the smaller bag is attached when the smaller bag is detached therefrom.

2. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag having a bottom, a tray underlying the bottom of the larger bag, means securing the tray detachably to the larger bag, a smaller bag oriented alongside on the larger bag, means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag to enable the larger bag, tray and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the tray for access to items therein and removal of the small bag for use independently of the larger bag and tray, and carrying means defining a handle, means on said larger bag and means on said smaller bag for selectively connecting the carrying means thereto to enable the assembled hand luggage to be carried when the carrying means is attached to the larger bag and enable the smaller bag to be carried independently of the larger bag and tray when the carrying means to attached thereto.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrying means is in the form of a flexible carrying strap, said means on the larger bag and smaller bag for connection with the with the strap including a pair of D-rings on each bag, each end of the strap including a snap hook for detachable engagement with the D-rings.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said bottom on the larger bag is rigid and said bottom and tray are of substantially the same shape, a peripheral collar attached to the bottom of the larger bag and depending peripherally thereof for telescopic engagement 7 with the tray, said tray having an open upper end telescopically received in the collar and being closed by the bottom of the larger bag.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said means securing the tray to the bag including a pair of depending tabs on the collar, releasable fastener means on said tabs and tray for mounting the tray to the bottom of the larger bag.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the interior of the collar includes fastener means corresponding with the fastener means on the tabs to enable the tabs to be folded upwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the collarsthereby enabling the tabs to be stored in position interiorly of the collar to enable the larger bag to be employed independently of the tray with the tabs being substantially concealed.

7. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag having a bottom, a tray underlying the bottom of the larger bag, means securing the tray detachably to the larger bag, a smaller bag oriented alongside of the larger bag, and means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag to enable the larger bag, tray and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the trayfor access to items therein and removal of the small bag for use independently of the larger bag and tray, said means at- I taching the smaller bag to the larger bag including an upwardly openingpocket formed in the side wall of the larger bag, a projecting flap extending from the upper corner of the smaller-bag and extending into the pocket in the side wall of the larger bag, coacting fastener means securing the flap on the smaller bag to the inner surface of the upper portion of the pocket on the larger bag thereby detachably securing the upper corner of the larger bag to the pocket in the side wall of the larger bag.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said pocket in the side wall of the larger bag is retained in closed position by centrally disposed fasteners to prevent the pocket in the side wall of the larger bag from being deflected outwardly by the weight of the smaller bag thereby retaining the side wall of the larger bag and the side wall of the smaller bag in substantially straight relationship.

9. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the bottom of the larger bag and the bottom of the smaller bag are substantially in alignment with each other when the bags are assembled and the upper end of the smaller bag being substantiallybelow the upper end of the larger bag thereby enabling access to both bags when assembled.

10. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag, a smaller bag oriented alongside of and totally exteriorly of the large, bag whereby the smaller bag is free for use while still attached to the larger bag, means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag to enable the larger bag and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the smaller bag for use independently of the larger bag, and carrying means defining a handle, means on said larger bag and means on said smaller bag for selectively connecting the carrying means thereto to enable the assembled hand luggage to be carried when the carrying means is attached to the larger bag and enable the smaller bag to be carried independently of the larger bag when the carrying means is attached thereto.

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1. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag having a bottom, a tray underlying the bottom of the larger bag, means securing the tray detachably to the larger bag for separation by relative vertical movement, a smaller bag oriented alongside of and totally exteriorly of the larger bag, said larger bag and smaller bag being substantially non-collapsible, shape sustaining, non-foldable and constant in external and internal dimensions while attached or detached, said bags also being equally useable and accessible when attaChed or detached, and means disposed solely adjacent the top edge portion of the smaller bag detachably mounting the smaller bag onto the larger bag to enable the larger bag, tray and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the tray for access to items therein and removal of the smaller bag for use independently of the larger bag and tray, said means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag including fastening means on the larger bag that are hidden from view when observing the exterior portion of the larger bag to which the smaller bag is attached when the smaller bag is detached therefrom.
 2. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag having a bottom, a tray underlying the bottom of the larger bag, means securing the tray detachably to the larger bag, a smaller bag oriented alongside on the larger bag, means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag to enable the larger bag, tray and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the tray for access to items therein and removal of the small bag for use independently of the larger bag and tray, and carrying means defining a handle, means on said larger bag and means on said smaller bag for selectively connecting the carrying means thereto to enable the assembled hand luggage to be carried when the carrying means is attached to the larger bag and enable the smaller bag to be carried independently of the larger bag and tray when the carrying means to attached thereto.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrying means is in the form of a flexible carrying strap, said means on the larger bag and smaller bag for connection with the with the strap including a pair of D-rings on each bag, each end of the strap including a snap hook for detachable engagement with the D-rings.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said bottom on the larger bag is rigid and said bottom and tray are of substantially the same shape, a peripheral collar attached to the bottom of the larger bag and depending peripherally thereof for telescopic engagement with the tray, said tray having an open upper end telescopically received in the collar and being closed by the bottom of the larger bag.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said means securing the tray to the bag including a pair of depending tabs on the collar, releasable fastener means on said tabs and tray for mounting the tray to the bottom of the larger bag.
 6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the interior of the collar includes fastener means corresponding with the fastener means on the tabs to enable the tabs to be folded upwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the collars thereby enabling the tabs to be stored in position interiorly of the collar to enable the larger bag to be employed independently of the tray with the tabs being substantially concealed.
 7. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag having a bottom, a tray underlying the bottom of the larger bag, means securing the tray detachably to the larger bag, a smaller bag oriented alongside of the larger bag, and means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag to enable the larger bag, tray and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the tray for access to items therein and removal of the small bag for use independently of the larger bag and tray, said means attaching the smaller bag to the larger bag including an upwardly opening pocket formed in the side wall of the larger bag, a projecting flap extending from the upper corner of the smaller bag and extending into the pocket in the side wall of the larger bag, coacting fastener means securing the flap on the smaller bag to the inner surface of the upper portion of the pocket on the larger bag thereby detachably securing the upper corner of the larger bag to the pocket in the side wall of the larger bag.
 8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said pocket in the side wall of the larger bag is retained in closed position by centrally disposed fasteners to prevent the pocket in the side wall of the larger bag from being deflected outwardly by the weight of the smaller bag thereby retaining the side wall of the larger bag and the side wall of the smaller bag in substantially straight relationship.
 9. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the bottom of the larger bag and the bottom of the smaller bag are substantially in alignment with each other when the bags are assembled and the upper end of the smaller bag being substantially below the upper end of the larger bag thereby enabling access to both bags when assembled.
 10. A multiple unit hand luggage comprising a larger bag, a smaller bag oriented alongside of and totally exteriorly of the large, bag whereby the smaller bag is free for use while still attached to the larger bag, means detachably mounting the smaller bag on the larger bag to enable the larger bag and smaller bag to be hand carried as a single item of luggage and enabling removal of the smaller bag for use independently of the larger bag, and carrying means defining a handle, means on said larger bag and means on said smaller bag for selectively connecting the carrying means thereto to enable the assembled hand luggage to be carried when the carrying means is attached to the larger bag and enable the smaller bag to be carried independently of the larger bag when the carrying means is attached thereto. 